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WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM, Board of Education

Sam is from Falls Church, Virginia. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from North Carolina State University and a master's degree in business administration from Queens University of Charlotte. He is married to his wife, Anna, and with whom he has a son.

Sam is the CEO and founder of Evim Solutions. He is also a co-manager at Acadia Investments and a NCHSAA Football official for the Triangle Football Association. He is a former high school head coach and assistant coach at Wake Forest High School and Loch Raven High School. 

Sam Hershey currently serves as a member the Wake County School Board in District 6. He was elected to this position in 2022 and is serving his 1st term.

Candidate website

Wants to upgrade school facilities, including using solar power in all schools, conducting ventilation audits, installing portable HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration, improving sidewalk safety, and forming more joint-use agreements with nearby schools.

Supports replacing HVAC systems in schools with repeated issues and being transparent about the timeline for repairs.

Plans to advocate for replacing all trailers in District 6 with additions to school buildings.

Opposes federal waivers for the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Plans to develop a sustainability policy for the school system.

- Wants to upgrade school facilities, including using solar power in all schools, conducting ventilation audits, installing portable HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filtration, improving sidewalk safety, and forming more joint-use agreements with nearby schools.
- Supports replacing HVAC systems in schools with repeated issues and being transparent about the timeline for repairs.
- Plans to advocate for replacing all trailers in District 6 with additions to school buildings.
- Opposes federal waivers for the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Plans to develop a sustainability policy for the school system.

School Facilities & Resources

Supports increased state funding for schools to meet constitutional obligations.

Supports setting high academic targets and removing barriers to success.

As a member of the BOE, Hershey supported a 5-year plan to reach high academic targets in county schools, including a 90% proficiency and a 98% graduation rate by 2028. 

Believes addressing bus driver shortages is crucial for reducing long routes and early pick-ups, which he says are "barriers to academic success."

Supports hiring and retention efforts for school bus drivers, including raising their salary to $20 an hour. 

Plans to reduce barriers to advanced learning opportunities for K-5 students.

Wants to reduce barriers to advanced learning opportunities for K-5 students.

Supports early childhood education and plans to expand alignment efforts between Pre-K and Kindergarten.

Supported an early learning alignment summit to help students transition from Pre-K and Kindergarten.

Believes improving communication with parents is crucial, focusing on the quality, frequency, and accessibility of information shared on county and school websites.

Wants to improve school communication with parents and the volume, frequency, and access to shared information on county and school websites.

- Supports increased state funding for schools to meet constitutional obligations.
- As a member of the BOE, Hershey supported a 5-year plan to reach high academic targets in county schools, including a 90% proficiency and a 98% graduation rate by 2028. 
- Supports hiring and retention efforts for school bus drivers, including raising their salary to $20 an hour. 
- Wants to reduce barriers to advanced learning opportunities for K-5 students.
- Supported an early learning alignment summit to help students transition from Pre-K and Kindergarten.
- Wants to improve school communication with parents and the volume, frequency, and access to shared information on county and school websites.

Access to Education

Supports pay raises and reinstating Advanced Degree Pay for teachers.

Supported school board pay raises and Advanced Degree Pay for teachers being reinstated. 

Wants to raise teacher salaries and allot for funding for Instructional Assistants and school support staff.

- Supported school board pay raises and Advanced Degree Pay for teachers being reinstated. 
- Wants to raise teacher salaries and allot for funding for Instructional Assistants and school support staff.

Teachers

Believes "CRT- This is not being taught in grades K-12."

Said critical race theory is not being taught in K-12 schools. 

Supports parental involvement in school curriculum by allowing parents to review syllabuses, opt their children out of assignments, and see completed work.

Supports informing parents of school syllabuses and the curriculum, allowing parents to opt their children out of assignments and view completed work.

- Opposes banning books in schools.
- Said critical race theory is not being taught in K-12 schools. 
- Supports informing parents of school syllabuses and the curriculum, allowing parents to opt their children out of assignments and view completed work.

School Curriculum

Supports yearlong anti-bullying messaging in schools.

Supports yearlong messaging of the harmful effects of bullying. 

Believes the school lockdown notification zone should be expanded to enhance safety measures in response to school tragedies.

Wants to expand the zone of schools that are notified when one is in lockdown. 

Opposes "arming teachers" and creating "prison-like complexes" around schools.

Opposes arming teachers with weapons and creating "prison-like complexes" around schools.

Supports School Resource Officers (SROs) in middle and high schools.

Supports School Resource Officers in middle and high schools.

Believes support staff should be full-time in every school to better serve students.

Believes support staff should work full-time in all schools to better serve students.

- Supports yearlong messaging of the harmful effects of bullying. 
- Wants to expand the zone of schools that are notified when one is in lockdown. 
- Opposes arming teachers with weapons and creating "prison-like complexes" around schools.
- Supports School Resource Officers in middle and high schools.
- Believes support staff should work full-time in all schools to better serve students.

Student Wellbeing

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Sam Hershey

Sam Hershey Bio

Sam is from Falls Church, Virginia, and lives in Wake County, North Carolina. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a bachelor's degree in political science and later earned a master's degree in business administration from Queens University of Charlotte. He is married to Anna, and they have a son.

Sam is the CEO and Founder of Justincaseplanning.com. He is also a Co-Manager at Acadia Investments and has been involved with public school athletics as a coach and official. 

Sam Hershey currently serves on the Wake County School Board, representing District 6.  He was first elected in 2022 and is serving his 1st term.

Supports using a potential second term bond to fund facility renovations and improve processes for small school projects.

Believes facilities improvements are crucial and plans to address them.

Supports conducting ventilation audits and making related improvements for all schools.

Believes climate change is causing more severe weather and increased tornado warnings.

Supports establishing more joint-use agreements with municipalities and partnerships with community groups to utilize school facilities.

Serves as chair of the WCPSS Facilities committee.

Advocated for renovations at Sanderson and Mount Vernon Middle School and for the installation of turf fields at Broughton High School.

Believes PTAs are unfairly burdened with responsibilities that should be addressed by school administration.

Advocated for an independent market pay study and an independent organizational structure study to address community concerns about spending.

Plans to advocate for renovations at Broughton High School, including replacing the cafeteria and a trailer on the grounds.

Supports installing solar panels on all new school buildings and aims for all schools to have solar panels in 10-15 years.

Supports the use of portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems to improve indoor air quality and reduce the transmission of airborne diseases in children.

- Supports replacing HVAC systems in schools with repeated issues and being transparent about the timeline for repairs.
- Plans to advocate for replacing all trailers in District 6 with additions to school buildings.
- Opposes federal waivers for the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Supports installing solar panels on all new school buildings and aims for all schools to have solar panels in 10-15 years.
- Plans to develop a sustainability policy for the school system.
- Supports the use of portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filtration systems to improve indoor air quality and reduce the transmission of airborne diseases in children.

Believes in the importance of public school athletics for community building and student success.

Believes asking for donations is difficult but appreciates trust and support from contributors for continued service on the Wake County School Board.

Supports changes to early education curriculum to ensure children are adequately challenged.

Believes in the importance of parent engagement in school policy decisions.

Believes active parents are essential for strong school systems and supports gathering diverse feedback from parents on various subjects.

Promises to listen to parents, "even if we disagree on an issue."

Supports evaluating the effectiveness of summer programs to address pandemic-related learning loss.

Supports parental involvement in school governance and health initiatives.

Believes parents have many rights regarding their children's education.

- Supports increased state funding for schools to meet constitutional obligations.
- Supports setting high academic targets and removing barriers to success.
- Believes addressing bus driver shortages is crucial for reducing long routes and early pick-ups, which he says are "barriers to academic success."
- Plans to reduce barriers to advanced learning opportunities for K-5 students.
- Supports early childhood education and plans to expand alignment efforts between Pre-K and Kindergarten.
- Believes parents have many rights regarding their children's education.
- Believes improving communication with parents is crucial, focusing on the quality, frequency, and accessibility of information shared on county and school websites.

Supports significant pay increases for teachers and fulfilling the "constitutional obligation to schools" by increasing per-pupil spending.

Supports significant pay increases for teachers and funding for instructional assistants and support staff, including school counselors, social workers, and nurses.

- Supports pay raises and reinstating Advanced Degree Pay for teachers.
- Supports significant pay increases for teachers and funding for instructional assistants and support staff, including school counselors, social workers, and nurses.

Supports creating an officiating curriculum for high school students as a physical education elective to help cover middle school and youth sports games.

- Opposes banning books in schools.
- Believes "CRT- This is not being taught in grades K-12."
- Supports parental involvement in school curriculum by allowing parents to review syllabuses, opt their children out of assignments, and see completed work.

Supports reviewing sidewalk safety around schools and collaborating with municipalities to enhance improvements.

Believes it is important to support children who are bullied.

Believes in reducing the need for School Resource Officers (SROs) by investing in support services, including hiring enough school psychologists and social workers for every school.

Promises to continue implementing regular safety and security updates to ensure progress is made at schools.

Supports child wellbeing through naloxone (opioid overdose medicine) policies, ensuring its availability and related education in all schools.

Believes in the importance of effective communication and community engagement to address child wellbeing issues.

Supports hiring school mental health professionals, social workers, and nurses.

- Supports yearlong anti-bullying messaging in schools.
- Believes the school lockdown notification zone should be expanded to enhance safety measures in response to school tragedies.
- Opposes "arming teachers" and creating "prison-like complexes" around schools.
- Supports School Resource Officers (SROs) in middle and high schools.
- Believes support staff should be full-time in every school to better serve students.
- Supports hiring school mental health professionals, social workers, and nurses.

- Supports increased state funding for schools to meet constitutional obligations.
- Supports setting high academic targets and removing barriers to success.
- Believes addressing bus driver shortages is crucial for reducing long routes and early pick-ups, which he says are "barriers to academic success."
- Plans to reduce barriers to advanced learning opportunities for K-5 students.
- Supports early childhood education and plans to expand alignment efforts between Pre-K and Kindergarten.
- Believes parents have many rights regarding their children's education.

Sam Hershey lives in Wake County, North Carolina. He graduated from North Carolina State University with a BA in Political Science and later earned an MBA from Queens University of Charlotte. He is married to Dr. Anna Allen, a veterinarian, and they have a son and two dogs.

Sam Hershey currently serves as the chair of the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) Facilities Committee and is a member of the policy committee. He has also been involved with public school athletics as a coach and official for over two decades, including ten years at Wake Forest High School.

Sam Hershey currently serves on the Wake County School Board and is the chair of the WCPSS Facilities Committee. He also serves as a member of the policy committee.

- The Board of Education runs the public school system. They create policies that establish standards, accountability and evaluation of essential operations of the school system.
- The Board of Education member hires a superintendent and can remove them when necessary. The superintendent assists the Board of Education in implementing the board’s policies. 
- The Board of Education is charged with deciding the school budget. This means they decide how to allocate money between different services, such as teacher pay, repairing school facilities, or access to technology.
- Board of Education members are elected every four years. 

Member of the board that governs your county's public school system